2022 Five Star Reads
I have read 85 books in 2022 and 18 of those books are five stars. I would consider these books to be the ones that have stuck with me and had exceptional characteristics that made them stand out from the pack.
The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden
The exciting conclusion to the Winternight Trilogy. Moscow has been struck by disaster. Its people are searching for answers and for someone to blame. Vasya finds herself alone and beset on all sides. The Prince is in a rage. A wicked demon returned, stronger than ever, and caught in the center is Vasya.
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
After receiving a frantic letter from her cousin begging her to save her from doom, Noemi heads to High Place, a house in the Mexican countryside. She is not sure what she will find – her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman – is a stranger. Noemi is an unlikely rescuer with her past as a debutante, but she is tough and smart with an indomitable will. And she is not afraid.
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
On a cold spring night in 1952, a huge meteorite fell to earth and obliterated the east coast of the US. The ensuing climate cataclysm will soon render the earth inhospitable. This looming threat calls for a radically accelerated effort to colonize space and requires a march larger share of humanity to take part.
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
In a moment of desperation, a young woman makes a Faustian bargain to live forest and is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets. Thus begins the extraordinary life of Addie LaRue. How far will she go to leave her mark on the world? What will she do when she stumbles into a bookstore where a young man remembers her name?
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Between life and death, there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. A novel about all the choices that go into a life well lived. Nora Seed finds herself in this library. Faced with the possibility of changing her life and living a new one. She must travel through the library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life.
Down Falls the King by Katherine D. Graham
Tengu Princess Rei is going to the Underworld for one reason – she is going to kill the Devil. It’s been 500 years since Lucef infiltrated the Tengu kingdom and destroyed Rei’s world. Now under a special moon, Rei seized her chance to steal back what is rightfully hers – her sister’s soul.
Angel’s Abdication by Katherine D. Graham
When Seracuse, the Angel crown princess, discovers she has been betrothed to the Devil, she knows she must run away to avoid life at his mercy. Abdicating the Angel throne is not easy with both the Heavens and the Lower World on her tail.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” haunted Barley Cove. Kya Clark is barefoot and wild, unfit for society. So when popular Chase Andrews is found dead, locals point the finger at her. But Kya is more than they say. Can she prove her innocence?
*I am aware there is a controversy surrounding the author’s family. It is unclear what she knew – if anything – about the murders in Zambia. She is not a suspect in the case.*
The Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan
All the world knows Lady Isabella Trent to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of her adventures as she risked life and limb to satisfy her scientific curiosity. Starting with her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana where she made the first of many discoveries that changed the world forever.
Enchanted Forests Anthology
If you go into the woods today… You’d better not go alone. Discover the secret world between the trees where fairies, unicorns, and monsters dwell. A collection of short stories with all proceeds going to charities benefiting the Rainforest.
The Slayer Queen by Katherine D. Graham
Darkness and flames are coming. The fanged shadows within want only one thing: control of the world. In a world ravaged by Vampires, only Alara, the vampire queen stands between the hordes and humanity. But ghosts of her past aren’t ready to release their hold on her.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
The Anthropocene is the current geological age, in which human activity had profoundly shaped the planet and its biodiversity. This is a collection of essays reviewing different facets of humanity from the QWERTY keyboard to the Penguins of Madagascar on a five star scale.
Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick
A collection of autobiographical essays about Anna Kendrick’s rise to fame, struggle with auditions, dating, and more. With her stories of candor and wry observations.
A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik
Learning has never been this deadly. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships – save strategic ones. Survival is more important than grades for the school won’t let them leave until they graduate or die. El is uniquely prepared for this danger with her power strong enough to wipe out millions. Her problem is the other students.
*I know of the previous version of this book that had racist passages in it. The version I read was the modified version after the author removed the offensive passages and a promise to do better in the future.*
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles
In a display case in the Smithsonian is a rough cotton bag stitched with a handful of words that evoke a family story of loss and love, passed down through generations. In 1850’s South Carolina, an enslaved woman named Rose gave this sack filled with a few precious items to her daughter as she was sold. This book tries to track down the family through the annals of history.
The Huntress by Kate Quinn
Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the Night Witches. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress. Only Nina’s bravery and cunning can keep her alive.
Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
Book 13 of the Wheel of Time. The Last Battle has started. The seals are crumbling and the Pattern is unraveling. The armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight. The sun is setting on the Third Age. Mat Cauthon prepares for the most difficult challenge of his life. The creatures beyond the stone gateways – the Aelfinn and Eelfin – have a friend held captive. He must enter the Tower of Ghenjei to save her.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
16 year old Starr Carter moved between two worlds – the poor neighborhood where she lives and the rich prep school she attends. The balance is shattered when she witnesses her childhood best friend shot at the hands of police. Soon his death makes national headlines with people protesting in his name. But what Starr does or doesn’t say could upend her community and endanger her life.
** The Realm of Darkness Box set was not included in this because I have not finished all 35 books, even though I have rated the set 5 stars on Goodreads **
